Secret Love

20| visiting

The next morning, Jisung bolted upright in bed, his heart racing with a sudden sense of urgency. He hastily threw off the covers and rushed to the washroom, the door creaking shut behind him. The sound of running water and muffled movements filled the air as he spent over ten minutes collecting himself.

When he finally emerged, his face was flushed from the warmth of the water, and his eyes looked red-rimmed from lack of sleep. He stood before the mirror, towel-drying his face as he gazed at his reflection. His eyes, sunken and tired, stared back at him, and his pale complexion seemed to glow in the soft light of the bathroom.

Jisung's thoughts began to wander, his mind consumed by the weight of his emotions. He felt like he was drowning in a sea of uncertainty, and the pressure was building up inside him. But he knew he couldn't afford to let his emotions get the better of him. He took a deep breath, steeling himself against the turmoil that threatened to overwhelm him.

With a determined glint in his eye, Jisung told himself that he needed to focus on the present. As long as he was fine now, nothing else mattered. He let out a sigh, his shoulders sagging slightly as he smiled wryly at his reflection. "I should take my medicine," he muttered to himself, the words a stark reminder of his reality.

Jisung turned away from the mirror, his movements mechanical as he made his way to the dresser. He opened the drawer, revealing a neat array of medications and supplements. His hand closed around a small bottle, and he shook out a tablet. He grabbed the water bottle from the bedside table, the cap twisting open with a soft crunch.

As he swallowed the tablet, Jisung's eyes drifted back to the mirror, and he was caught off guard by the wave of emotions that washed over him. Tears pricked at the corners of his eyes, and he felt his throat constricting as he struggled to hold back a sob. Despite the water he had just drunk, his throat felt parched and dry.

But Jisung refused to give in to his emotions. He took a deep breath, his voice barely above a whisper as he comforted himself. "I'm good, I'm fine! And I'm strong." He repeated the words like a mantra, trying to convince himself that they were true.

As he wiped away the tears that had begun to fall, Jisung forced a smile onto his face. "I'm happy," he said, the words feeling hollow but necessary. He took another deep breath, his eyes locking onto his reflection.

As Jisung swung open the office door, Minho's intense focus on his work was momentarily disrupted. He turned to acknowledge Jisung's arrival, his gaze sweeping over him with an air of detachment. Jisung, oblivious to the chill in Minho's demeanor, greeted him with infectious enthusiasm. "Hi, Hyung, good morning!"

Minho's expression remained impassive, his eyes betraying no hint of warmth or recognition. He didn't even bother to respond, his attention already back to the task at hand. Jisung was taken aback, his smile faltering as he wondered if he had misread the situation. Did Minho just ignore me?

Undeterred, Jisung attempted to break the ice once more. "Why are you always so early, Hyung?" he asked, his tone light and conversational as he walked towards Minho's desk. He placed a steaming cup of coffee beside Minho's elbow, but the older man didn't even flinch, his focus unwavering.

Jisung's confusion deepened. Just the previous day, they had been chatting  together, and now it seemed as though Minho had erected a wall between them. Jisung's eyes searched Minho's stoic face, and for a moment, he was transported back to a time when their friendship had been strained, when Minho's indifference had hurt him deeply.

Jisung's voice was laced with a hint of uncertainty as he called out to Minho. "Hyung?" The older man's gaze finally shifted, his eyes narrowing slightly as he replied in a clipped tone, "Jisung, I'm sorry, but we are in the workplace, and I really need to finish these tasks as soon as possible today, before noon."